Stub Mandrel

A good, level fingerboard is important, you can't compensate for a small high spot by scraping down a fret. If it has side dots, be sure they are where you want them. On some (mostly defretted) basses they are between fret positions. I learned on a bass with dots at the fret positions and trying to play with the other style is tough as they 'draw' my fingers away from proper intonation.

I'm in a band with a young lad who looks likely to make it with an indie band, but who has been told by several pros that he could make it as a blues rock musician. He does lots of side stuff as well. He's just completing an electronics degree and works part time for the post office. I would say flexibility and keeping options open is the best plan. Bear in mind student loan payments only kick in once you earn a reasonably decent salary.

It's a very unstructured situation at the 'cover band' level. I've done several deps for one band where I had two rehearsals first. Another band said 'we don't rehearse' so I went in cold. One interesting gig was with a dep guiarist too. We did Come Together... I knew the band played the the Gary Clarke jr. arrangement but the guitarist was all Beatles which came out a bit odd! As for bringing in deps, drummers generally do well, guitarists you need someone who can improvise instinctively by ear if they aren't able to rehearse. When I've been depped for apparently it went well but she knew the guitarist well. Usually you get a list of about 30-40 songs many of which won't be played! I might veto one or two which can reduce the learning time by 50%. Links to 'the version you play' are useful. People always tell you the starting chord not the key... Never come across anything other than getting the same share as the band, although one gig we threw in a bit extra for the dep as it wasn't a big payer. Deps aren't expected to chip in on rehearsal costs. Most deps do it because they enjoy learning new material and the buzz of playing by the seat of their pants. A good amateur dep who throws themselves into the spirit of things (maybe with some improv) can be great to play with.

Highlights from the UK Metric Association's Timeline: In 1969 the Government announced that speed limits would go metric in 1973. 1980 The UK Metrication Board is abolished. The Government says that “metrication has now been extensively adopted in manufacturing industry and also in retail trade, where most packaged goods sold in prescribed quantities are now sold in metric sizes, so there is now very limited scope for the Board’s activities …” The metric transition stalls. 1989 The EEC agrees to a postponement of the completion of the UK metric changeover. 1999 Supermarkets, butchers, fishmongers, grocers, greengrocers and corner shops complete their preparations for the switch to weighing and pricing in metric. 2014 UKMA publishes a report entitled “Still a mess“, covering the results of an opinion survey carried out at its request in 2013 by YouGov.

Two coming soon, only got Saturdays booked today!

My default setting is about that with tone full. I like both pups up as well for the 'hollow' sound.

It looks surprisingly cool to me, the body is a bit thin and small but it still weighs the same as my full scale Sire P10 😬

We finished by hamming Marilyn Manson style sweet dreams. I think thst shows where it's heading. Our own songs have titles like Kill the Clown, Circling the Drain and Dreams of Despair. I suspect it's all going a bit goth...

It's unusual for a drummer to do it without being asked though!

Other end of the (short) scale: As received... will be tarting it up: A quick set up saw a half turn off the truss rod and a hefty neck shim and the action is still high with the bridge bottomed out. Slight buzz at the nut on g string, think the slot is a bit tight as pushing string down stopped it. Very light strings so hilariously easy to play. Was thinking of a refin, but the yellowed colour evokes aged olympic white...

Cydernide 😁

Well that was interesting! A quiet rehearsal! A drummer I haven't met before who put a towel over the snare. I got to refine my basslines for about eight originals. We jammed a few things, including me and the guitarist (Daz the daffodil) trying to play and sing Child in Time 😱 Aside from that, quite a chilled evening. I even had go with a pick.* *It seems no-one calls them plectrums any more.

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Wigs.

Tonight, despite being in a good room and my eq virtually flat, my jazz sounded lifeless. It was only 2/3 of the way through the rehearsal I realised that I had tried the tones off, neck pickup backed off a bit reggae sound before we started. I'd reset my volumes but not the tones... Anyway... it's originals and for one song I needed inspiration and a more aggressive sound. I found both with a pick. The changed sound inspired me to a much better bassline.

Not my videos... they are my partners in this collaboration!

Are you a billionaire? 😁

If you think that's disturbing:

Rehearsing with Taffman and Daffodil tonight... so we'll have a go at the theme song...

That's about 30% more stretch!

You need a 'proper' jazz pup pair to get the full range of jazz sounds. That's why PJs don't cut it.

Here's the evidence...

I've just received a Kay Gremlin from Lee - don't ask why I love these old, bargain-basement instruments! It was packed brilliantly well, better than described and Lee was great to deal with, as said above he's a credit to the Basschat community.

I use 1 finger per fret all the way to the nut... even on a 35" scale five string. I do have fairly long fingers.

Crikey you're all in the wars... I hope it isn't catching. Speedy recoveries @Bluewine and @Gasman!